Ohio's deer hunters may get silencer approval

Jul. 5, 2014

Written by

Dick Martin

CentralOhio.com

Ohio’s deer hunters may soon have the opportunity to learn for themselves whether silence truly is golden.

The state is inching toward accepting the use of silencers — a term that is the technical equal to suppressors, according to the National Rifle Association. Under consideration is a proposal to allow the use of these devices.

Leading the exchange in favor of silencer allowance is the Buckeye Firearms Association which has been giving the state legislature an earful on the subject. While Ohio does allow firearms owners to possess silencers, it is one of 10 states to also prohibit their use while hunting.

Based on the latest Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives statistics there are currently 10,407 licensed silencers in Ohio. Texas has the most with 47,712 and Rhode Island the least with 27.

Will silencers help deer hunters?

“I really don’t think it's going to make much of a difference one way or the other,” said Mike Tonkovich, deer management supervisor. “Maybe it’s just a novelty.”

Potential owners should understand that owning a silencer can be more of a curse than a help. They cost anywhere from $300 up to $2,500 and even more. They require constant maintenance and attention, and can uglify some firearms, critics say. The devices are sometimes likened to hunks of cast iron sewer pipe at the end of a barrel.

But it’s entirely possible that they may become part of a hunters arsenal and that day may come soon.

• The Division of Wildlife is asking deer hunters to participate in a unique survey to help shape the future of deer management in the state. The DOW will email a harvest survey to deer hunters asking them to identify locations, or the general area, where they hunted antlerless deer during the past three seasons.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and information provided will remain confidential. The information collected will allow the Division to combine areas with similar deer populations, hunter access and habitat characteristics and make plans accordingly.

• Hitting an animal with a vehicle is a common occurence on Ohio’s roads. But chances of that happening may diminish, thanks to a recent study.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has tested a design that uses fencing and culverts to guide animals under State Route 88, a recent test site. Trail cameras documented 4,122 animals using the culverts, including 84 percent mammals, 5 percent birds, and 11 percent amphibian and reptile species.

The number of road kills in the vicinity of the animal passages were 23 (39 percent) compared to 35 (61 percent) at the control site without a passage. The species benefiting the most were raccoons, which passed under the road approximately 1,700 times, followed by o’possums, rabbits, groundhogs and various frog species.

• The news for Buckeye waterfowl hunters isn’t good this fall, it’s GREAT!

North America’s spring duck population is at a record level, and the birds returned to find a high number of ponds on the breeding grounds, according to a 2014 survey. In addition to record breeding duck numbers, more good news lies in continued wet conditions. The annual spring survey puts the breeding duck population at 49.2 million, surpassing the previous high set in 2012.

• The ODNR Director James Zehringer announced recently that Ohio State Parks will be offering additional military discounts.

A 10-percent discount is available for active or military veterans for camping, getaway rentals, cottages and lodge rooms at any of the nine Ohio State Park lodges.

“Ohio’s active and military veterans have made countless sacrifices for our nation, and we wanted to find a way to thank them for the service,” Zehringer said.

In honor of Veterans Day this fall, the ODNR will also provide active or military veterans with a 20-percent discount off camping, getaway rentals, cottages and lodge rooms from Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 16.

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher and author who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com.